IPLOCA Convenes 47th Annual Convention in D.C.
Association Elects New Board of Directors for 2014
More than 650 delegates attended the 47th annual International Pipe Line and Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA) Convention, Sept. 23-27, in Washington, D.C., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Doug Evans, of Gulf Interstate Engineering and 2012-2013 IPLOCA president, chaired the overall meeting.
Evans reported that there are now 260 IPLOCA members with eight new regular members and six new associate members added in the past year. IPLOCA has held various committee meetings in the past year, in France, Moscow, the United States and Canada. At the convention, the organization released a second edition of “Onshore Pipelines: The Road to Success.” Evans also reported that IPLOCA continues the Novel New Technologies Construction Initiative.
Najib Khoury
The convention included numerous meetings, as well as the election of a new board of directors for 2013-2014. The new officers are president Najib Khoury (Consolidated Contractors Co.), who also represents the Middle East and Africa on the board; first vice president Jean-Claude Van de Wiele (Spiecapag), representing Europe Mediterranean; second vice president Atul Punj (Punj Lloyd Group), representing East and Far East; treasurer Harald Dresp (Max Streicher), representing Europe Central; and immediate past president Evans.
The other regional directors are:
• Director for Europe Central:
Jan Koop (Bohlen-Doyen);
• Directors for Europe Eastern:
Kaan Dogan, (Attila Dogan Construction & Installation Co. Inc.) and Andrei Klepach (Stroygazconsulting);
• Director for Europe Mediterranean:
Roberto Castelli (Bonatti)
• Director for Europe North-West: Adam Wynne Hughes (Pipeline Induction Heat);
• Director for America North: Scott Summers (ARB Inc.) and John Tikkanen (Shawcor);
• Director for
Middle East & Africa:
Ibrahim Zakhem (Zakhem International Construction);
• Directors for East & Far East:
Jim Frith (McConnell Dowell)
In addition, the directors for Associate Members are Gerry Grothe (PipeLine Machinery), Greg Miller (Pipeline Inspection Co. Ltd.) and Michael Rae (Argus Ltd.). The directors-at-large are Larry Bolander (Fluor), Georges Hage (The C.A.T. Group). Marco Jannuzzi (Caterpillar), Wilhelm Maats (Maats Pipeline Equipment) and Bruno Maerten (GEOCEAN).
There were a number of significant awards presented during the convention. Nacap Australia was the overall Health & Safety Award winner for its program regarding QR codes linked to safety videos. The winner on the Corporate Social Responsibility category was Heerema Port Amboin for its work regarding disadvantaged children in Angola. This year’s New Technologies Award went to Herrenknecht in recognition of its Pipe Express, a new method for environmentally friendly and economic pipeline installation (see page 10).
A significant feature of all IPLOCA conventions is the various social programs and tours for attendees. A highlight of the tours this year included visits to the Holocaust Museum, Mount Vernon, Va., Annapolis, Md., and a unique tour of Washington, D.C. — on Segways. Caterpillar again hosted a Thursday night reception. This year it was at the National Air and Space Museum where the company presented Evans with a specially commission painting.
On the evening of the final banquet, Greg Miller of Pipeline Inspection was the lucky winner of a car, courtesy of Volvo Construction Equipment and Renault Trucks. Lottery funds of more than $20,000 were raised for Crossroads School, in Houston, which serves students with learning differences. Also during the final banquet, Khoury was introduced as IPLOCA’s 2013-2014 president. IPLOCA’s 48th Convention will be held in Abu Dhabi, Oct. 13-17, 2014.
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